Norwood, Pennsylvania: What Has Been Done

EPA initiated a site assessment in February 2017 through the Superfund Program to determine if there is a threat posed to human health and the environment by actual or potential releases of hazardous substances and if there is a need for additional action. In September 2017, EPA collected surface and subsurface soil samples within the landfill area and adjacent to residential properties, as well as surface water and sediment samples in the Muckinipattis and Darby Creeks. Samples were analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals and mercury. 

In May 2018, EPA performed additional surface soil sampling at 21 residential properties adjacent to the landfill.

Sampling results identified varying levels of contamination in the surface and subsurface soils of the landfill area. However, based on current data, contamination found on residential properties or in the surface water or sediments of the adjacent water bodies does not appear to be attributable to the landfill.

In July 2019, EPA met with representatives from the Norwood Borough and interested stakeholders to present the findings of the site assessment and discuss plans for a larger public meeting. Following the meeting, new information was presented to EPA about the existence of the Old Norwood Dump, a 10-acre area along Muckinipattis Creek, at the eastern end of Norwood Borough Park, which may also have been used for waste disposal. 

On November 21, 2019, EPA held a public meeting at the Norwood Fire Company to present the current findings of the site assessment and discuss additional plans for sampling. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) also presented information on the health consultation document they are working on with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH). During the meeting, EPA discussed its plan to sample the Old Norwood Dump and offered to sample additional residential properties in the Lower Norwood area, to gain a broader representative sample of residential soil in the community.

On January 27, 2020, EPA conducted a site scoping visit and walked areas of the Old Norwood Dump, the former Muckinipattis Wastewater Treatment Plant (now DELCORA pumping station), and the Norwood Landfill. This site visit was used to determine future sampling locations and identify any accessibility issues.

In Fall 2020, EPA performed sampling within non-residential and residential areas of lower Norwood. A full description of the sampling activities can be found on the Current Status page.